Trencin-born defender Filip Kovalcik signs an autograph for a fan ahead of Slovakia's game against Latvia at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship in his hometown.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / CHRIS TANOUYE
Trencin is a hockey city. Beyond the walls of its imposing medieval castle, this Slovak town has reared a wealth of talent.
It reflected in the names of its rinks – the Pavol Demitra Stadium stands a couple of blocks away from the Marian Gaborik Hockey School, named for the three-time Stanley Cup winner. Benches outside the arena bear their names, along with Marian Hossa and Hall-of-Famer Zdena Chara. Big Z’s bench, fittingly, is noticeably larger than the rest.
Dig deeper, and you find two Trencin-born players – Peter Ceresnak and Samuel Knazko – on the Olympic bronze roster from 2022. Calgary’s 21-year-old forward Samuel Honzek is the latest Dukla alum to reach the NHL.
And in 2026, Trencin is heavily represented at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. Slovakia’s roster features six players from the town – Hrenak, Goljer, Kovalcik, Karsay, Kazda and Jakubec. In addition, 15-year-old Max Melicherik, born in England, returned to his father Milos’s hometown to play for Dukla’s U16s before joining Tappara last season.
It reflected in the names of its rinks – the Pavol Demitra Stadium stands a couple of blocks away from the Marian Gaborik Hockey School, named for the three-time Stanley Cup winner. Benches outside the arena bear their names, along with Marian Hossa and Hall-of-Famer Zdena Chara. Big Z’s bench, fittingly, is noticeably larger than the rest.
Dig deeper, and you find two Trencin-born players – Peter Ceresnak and Samuel Knazko – on the Olympic bronze roster from 2022. Calgary’s 21-year-old forward Samuel Honzek is the latest Dukla alum to reach the NHL.
And in 2026, Trencin is heavily represented at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. Slovakia’s roster features six players from the town – Hrenak, Goljer, Kovalcik, Karsay, Kazda and Jakubec. In addition, 15-year-old Max Melicherik, born in England, returned to his father Milos’s hometown to play for Dukla’s U16s before joining Tappara last season.
Slovakia's captain and Dukla Trencin defender Adam Goljer salutes the home crowd after victory over Canada in the opening game.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / CHRIS TANOUYE
Defender Filip Kovalcik, who played in Dukla’s youth system before moving to Canada at the start of this season, is enjoying the reunion.
“There’s a few of us Trencin boys on this team,” he said. “We know each other from childhood. We played together for years here and now we’re back together. It’s fun.
“And representing Slovakia here in Trencin is so beautiful. I played this season in Canada but before that I was here from my first day of hockey. I’m playing in front of my friends and family.”
The legacy of Trencin’s hockey legends looms large for these youngsters. Goalie Samuel Hrenak, who joined Fargo Force in the USHL this season after playing in Dukla’s academy since 2022, said: “It’s an inspiration. All of the legends who were born here and raised here. it’s amazing to see some of those legends here at our games. It’s motivation for us.”
And Kovalcik picked out some big footsteps to follow.
“My idol is Rasmus Dahlin, but when I look at Trencin players, Chara is so good,” he said. “What he did, how he did it, he’s the big one for me. I’d love to follow in those footsteps.”
Success breeds success. As well as famous examples to aspire to, Trencin’s past glories helped encourage a strong hockey infrastructure. “It’s a good place to grow up,” added Kovalcik. “We have good coaches here, good arenas and everything, as well as a great history.”
“There’s a few of us Trencin boys on this team,” he said. “We know each other from childhood. We played together for years here and now we’re back together. It’s fun.
“And representing Slovakia here in Trencin is so beautiful. I played this season in Canada but before that I was here from my first day of hockey. I’m playing in front of my friends and family.”
The legacy of Trencin’s hockey legends looms large for these youngsters. Goalie Samuel Hrenak, who joined Fargo Force in the USHL this season after playing in Dukla’s academy since 2022, said: “It’s an inspiration. All of the legends who were born here and raised here. it’s amazing to see some of those legends here at our games. It’s motivation for us.”
And Kovalcik picked out some big footsteps to follow.
“My idol is Rasmus Dahlin, but when I look at Trencin players, Chara is so good,” he said. “What he did, how he did it, he’s the big one for me. I’d love to follow in those footsteps.”
Success breeds success. As well as famous examples to aspire to, Trencin’s past glories helped encourage a strong hockey infrastructure. “It’s a good place to grow up,” added Kovalcik. “We have good coaches here, good arenas and everything, as well as a great history.”
Timothy Kazda in action for Slovakia against Canada at Trencin's Pavol Demitra Stadium.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / CHRIS TANOUYE
Slovakia’s U18s could write a new chapter of that history this week. The country has not medalled at this event since 2003, and has never won gold.
But it defeated Canada at this level for the first time on the way to topping Group A in the preliminary round. That performance was powered by significant contributions from Trencin-born captain Adam Goljer (two goals, two assists), another current Dukla forward Michal Jakubec (1+2) and Timothy Kazda, whose four goals include the game-winner against the Canadians.
Kazda moved to the USA in 2022 and will play for Boston College in the NCAA next term, but he’s relishing the atmosphere on his return home.
“I played here for like seven years when I was little,” he said. “This is my home rink. It’s awesome to come back here and play in front of 7,000 people.”
Kovalcik is also enjoying the support of a vocal Trencin crowd: “It’s unbelievable. I can’t hear my words! It’s so good and I hope it will be louder and louder in the knock-out games.”
And Hrenak believes that this roster deserves to end Slovakia’s run of three bronze-medal game defeats. “I have never experienced a team like this before,” he said. “We are such a great group and we are playing so well. We’re really happy for each other, let’s hope it happens.”
But it defeated Canada at this level for the first time on the way to topping Group A in the preliminary round. That performance was powered by significant contributions from Trencin-born captain Adam Goljer (two goals, two assists), another current Dukla forward Michal Jakubec (1+2) and Timothy Kazda, whose four goals include the game-winner against the Canadians.
Kazda moved to the USA in 2022 and will play for Boston College in the NCAA next term, but he’s relishing the atmosphere on his return home.
“I played here for like seven years when I was little,” he said. “This is my home rink. It’s awesome to come back here and play in front of 7,000 people.”
Kovalcik is also enjoying the support of a vocal Trencin crowd: “It’s unbelievable. I can’t hear my words! It’s so good and I hope it will be louder and louder in the knock-out games.”
And Hrenak believes that this roster deserves to end Slovakia’s run of three bronze-medal game defeats. “I have never experienced a team like this before,” he said. “We are such a great group and we are playing so well. We’re really happy for each other, let’s hope it happens.”